[International]Innovative programmatic approaches to HIV prevention and care services for gay men, other men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender persons using information and communication technology (ICT)
This Special Issue of Digital Culture & Education (DCE) provides innovative programmatic approaches to HIV prevention and care services for gay men, other men that have sex with men (MSM) and transgender persons using information and communication technology (ICT) at a time when these same populations are experiencing an alarming upward trend of new HIV infections. During a successful participatory consultation in Washington D.C. in May 2013 hosted by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and co-supported by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, and the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH), representatives from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, Australia and the United States shared innovative uses of communication technology across HIV research, programs, outreach, advocacy and public-private partnerships. Believing it crucial to share their innovations more widely—through open-access channels—led us to working in partnership with these frontline workers, activists, researchers and educators to further document and share their technological innovations in different global contexts. Importantly, we prioritised working with frontline workers and activists by providing cyclical and targeted writing mentoring to assist them in writing about their successful digital interventions. Disseminating this timely work through open-access channels, like Digital Culture & Education (DCE) means that researchers in less resourced institutions, practitioners and activists in the field and the general public can better understand how ICT, particularly mobile technologies, provides unprecedented opportunities to more effectively reach and engage gay men, other MSM and transgender populations across the HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care cascade.

[Turkey] EU warns Turkey over LGBTI protection
The European Union has warned Turkey over the dangers posed to minorities and vulnerable groups in the country, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people.

[USA] Jane Clementi, Mother Of Tyler Clementi, Speaks Out On The Suicide of Transgender Teen Leelah Alcorn
As we've been reporting, the tragic death of Leelah Alcorn has grabbed the attention of people across the country and across the world. Leelah's final plea in a suicide note posted on Tumblr was that we "fix society." Since then, hundreds rallied in D.C., a Cleveland City Councilman gave an emotional and impactful speech on the need to protect trans youth, Transparent creator Jill Soloway dedicated her show's Golden Globe win to Leelah Alcorn and also Jane Clementi, the mother of Tyler Clementi, the Rutgers student who took his own life after he learned that his roommate had recorded him kissing another man, is speaking out and calling for a change in our "hearts and minds" so that we "celebrate every life":

[CA, USA] Defense: Barbie Cross-Dresser was High on Meth but Did Not Attack Woman
The attorney for a man accused of attacking a woman in a toilet stall at a Big Lots store last year while wearing a child’s pink Barbie costume told a jury Thursday that he may have cross-dressed because he was high on alcohol and methamphetamine but was not guilty of an assault.

[DC, USA] Georgetown Students Join Rally Advocating Coverage for Transgender ‘Transitioning’
Georgetown students reportedly joined a march outside the Justice Department, advocating for gender transitioning insurance coverage and a federal ban on conversion therapy for minors, among other demands, according to The Hoya. In light of events connected to Catholic universities promoting confusing ideas about gender, The Cardinal Newman Society recently interviewed theologians from faithful Catholic colleges about Church teaching on sexual identity.

[IN, USA] Dozens gather to mourn trans teen
Nearly 200 miles from Kings Mills Ohio, home of deceased transgender teen Leelah Alcorn, dozens of people crowded together last night in Rachel’s Café to give meaning to her death.

[MO, USA] New preferred name policy launches pilot program
Through the combined efforts of several campus offices, a pilot program has been launched to allow students to use their preferred names in many more settings than are currently available, including class rosters, University emails and diplomas.

[MT, USA] Trans Woman & Advocate Supports Proposed MHSA Policy
One trans woman in Missoula is pushing for change.
Executive Director of the Gender Expansion Project Bree Sutherland grew up and came out as gay in Kalispell. She decided to transition to female in Missoula, but has been back home several times.

[NY, USA] Transgender inmate to get $80,000
The state has agreed to pay $80,000 to settle a lawsuit by a transgender inmate from Rochester who alleged she was beaten by corrections officers at the Attica Correctional Facility.

[PA, USA] Officer testimony renews hope in Morris case
For the past 12 years, an outstanding question in the Nizah Morris case has been whether Officer Elizabeth Skala was authorized to give a Center City “courtesy ride” to Morris.

[TN, USA] Trans buddy program to support LGBT patients
Summary: Fear of being stigmatized by health care professionals is a barrier for many patients who are members of the LGBT community — it’s one of the most-reported reasons transgender individuals do not go to the doctor. Two researchers want to change that. This month the pair, along with a dedicated group of volunteers, will begin serving as advocates for a pilot program called Trans Buddy.